July 28, 2009 My Pre-Op Consultation @ UCSD Thornton Hospital ( Dr. Scott Ball )

Just had my Pre-Op Consultation @ UCSD Thornton Hospital with Dr. Scott Ball’s team. Dustyn is his PA- Physicians Assistant. He is great and will answer any and all questions. They gave me the typical rundown of the risks associated with a Bilateral Resurfacing.

– Possible blood transfusion ( 15% risk ) – Possibility of waking up with THR'(s) – Infection – Total surgery time TBD @ 4-5 hours. – Anesthesia is an epidural blocker ( hip region) with general Anesthesia – I am 39 years old and in good health – ( blood pressure went up today after discussing the surgery. Wish they would have taken it when I first got there. Dustyn says they kind of does that on purpose, which I can understand. Etc..

My Bilateral Hip Resurfacing surgery is scheduled for This Friday the 31st @ 9 am. We are using the ASR* -Articular Surface Replacement System by DePuy as my implants. I asked Dr. Ball to email me my “templated” Xrays with the ASR Implants and he did. It is very exciting to see those. I am now 39 and my wife is 27 weeks pregnant and I am very ready to have surgery and to get back to surfing, golfing and being a healthy father without pain.

Andre August 6, 2009 My surgery went a little longer than expected about 6 total hours to complete both sides. Dr. Scott Ball did a very diligent incredible procedure with the 25 year old arthritic hip joints he had to work with. He is a young, intelligent, very active great surgeon for hip resurfacing. Glowing recommendations all around for him and his staff.

I am recovering well and am back home as of Tuesday afternoon. PT has begun and I am super motivated to heal properly. I am already full weight bearing and can do standing and sitting exercises 6th day post op. Bring on the crutches!

Thank you, Andre, 39 years old Dr. Ball ASR Depuy Bilateral Resurfacing 7/31/09 6 days post op

August 7, 2009 I am 7 days post op and had a bilateral ASR Resurfacing done by Dr. Ball on 7/31/09. I had a 3 and a half day hospital stay and came home Tuesday afternoon. I was diagnosed at the age of 15 with Hip Dysplesia and had been living with it for 25 years and am currently 39. I am looking forward to the small progressive stages of rehab.

I made sure that we had a hospital bed downstairs as we have a 2 story home. I am still using my walker but will be going to crutches on Monday even though I feel I could use them now. The right leg slide is a tough on e out of bed for me but I can get in and out of bed by myself if needed. he wife typically will lift them back for me if needed. I am trying to stop the pain meds as of today and hacve been doing PT since my 2nd day post op.

August 28, 2009 I had my 4 week appointment with Dr. Ball on Thursday my X-rays and everything looks RIGHT ON!!! I am still a little stiff and am doing my stretches and PT almost everyday. Dr. Ball said I could do as much as I am able but no jogging/running or hi impact stuff until about 4-6 months which I am completely fine with. I am relearning to walk on the inside of my feet and pushing off strongly and making that stronger since I used to compensate walking with the outside of my feet. This is evidenced by the outside wear on all my old shoes.

Dr. Ball reconfirmed that there is no doubt my hips were the worst he has seen ( 25 years of pain and bad hips) and could not believe that I was so mobile prior to surgery. He really took his time to clean out all the bad bone and reshaped me with incredible precision. He said that I am very tough for dealing with all the pain for so many years and with the surgery I had. I am very glad my “toughness” and meeting Vince in Hawaii did not stop from taking the leap to being pain free!!

October 31, 2009 Today is 3 months to the day since having Bilateral Hip Resurfacing Surgery and everything has gone according to plan. I LOVE BEING PAIN FREE and also walking strong and with no limping.

I have goals to surf and do some activities by next summer. I could do it way sooner but I can wait for the water to get warm again. I want to ski, play tennis, golf and jog my new son in his stroller. That is all I really would like to do and try and be able to use these new “wheels” for as long as possible. I do not plan on running any marathons or even a 5K (but I might) So that I can get the most out of my hips for the long term.

I Could not be happier – Thank you to Vince, Vicky and all the surface hippies and information that is out there for future and current Resurfacing patients.

August 31, 2010 Been over 1 year ( July 31st ) since my ASR Bilateral with Dr. Scott Ball. Everything is going great! Glad to hear you are on your way to a pain free life.